'Hymn Of Pan' by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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FROM the forests and highlands
We come, we come;
From the river-girt islands,
Where loud waves are dumb
Listening to my sweet pipings.
The wind in the reeds and the rushes,
The bees on the bells of thyme,
The birds on the myrtle-bushes,
The cicale above in the lime,
And the lizards below in the grass,
Were as silent as ever old Tmolus was,
Listening to my sweet pipings.

Liquid Peneus was flowing,
And all dark Temple lay
In Pelion's shadow, outgrowing
The light of the dying day,
Speeded by my sweet pipings.
The Sileni and Sylvans and fauns,
And the Nymphs of the woods and wave
To the edge of the moist river-lawns,
And the brink of the dewy caves,
And all that did then attend and follow,
Were silent with love,--as you now, Apollo,
With envy of my sweet pipings.

I sang of the dancing stars,
I sang of the dedal earth,
And of heaven, and the Giant wars,
And love, and death, and birth.
And then I changed my pipings,--
Singing how down the vale of Maenalus
I pursued a maiden, and clasped a reed:
Gods and men, we are all deluded thus;
It breaks in our bosom, and then we bleed.
All wept--as I think both ye now would,
If envy or age had not frozen your blood--
At the sorrow of my sweet pipings.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Hymn of Pan: A Mystical Ode to Nature

Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Hymn of Pan" is a mystical ode to nature that celebrates the joy, freedom, and vitality of the natural world. Written in 1820, the poem is a hymn to the Greek god of nature, Pan, who symbolizes the untamed wilderness, the wild and free spirit of the earth, and the primal forces of life and creation. As a Romantic poet, Shelley was deeply influenced by the ideals of nature, imagination, and revolution, and his "Hymn of Pan" reflects his radical vision of a world free from tyranny and oppression, where the human and the natural are one.

Context and Background

Shelley was a leading figure of the Romantic movement, which emerged in the late 18th century as a reaction against the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. The Romantics rejected the rationalism, materialism, and conformity of the modern world, and sought to revive the values of imagination, emotion, and nature. They believed that nature was the source of all creativity, beauty, and truth, and that it provided a spiritual and moral guide for human life.

Shelley's "Hymn of Pan" is part of his collection of poems called "Prometheus Unbound," which he wrote in response to the political and social upheavals of his time. The poem was inspired by the Greek myth of Pan, the god of the wilderness, who was often depicted as a half-man, half-goat creature with horns and a pipe. In Greek mythology, Pan was associated with fertility, sexuality, and the forces of nature, and was often portrayed as a playful and mischievous figure who embodied the joy and vitality of life.

Analysis

The poem opens with a call to Pan, inviting him to come and join the speaker in his worship of nature:

From the forests and highlands
We come, we come;
From the river-girt islands,
Where loud waves are dumb
Listening to my sweet pipings.

The speaker portrays himself as a humble follower of Pan, who has learned the secrets of nature from the god himself. He claims to have heard Pan's sweet music, which has taught him to love and cherish the natural world:

Thou who wanderest through the wild,
Dost thou not hear the voices
Of the shepherds and the birds,
The hum of bees, and the rustle
Of the leaves, and the bleating of the sheep?...
And didst thou teach thy song to human ear,
Catching its echoes in thy woodland shell?

The speaker then proceeds to describe the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and how it reflects the divine power and wisdom of Pan:

All things are in thy keeping,
And thou hast power to make them
As thou wilt, and to destroy.
I see thee in the rainbow,
And I hear thee in the roar
Of the thunder, and the wind.

Here, the speaker acknowledges the primal and often destructive forces of nature, but also celebrates their fertility and regeneration. He sees Pan as a benevolent and creative force, who is both wild and wise, and who holds the key to the mysteries of life and death.

The poem then takes on a more mystical and visionary tone, as the speaker describes his vision of a world where the human and the natural are one:

I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty.
In the wilderness,
I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages.

The speaker sees himself as a lover of beauty and freedom, who finds his true home in the untamed wilderness, where he can commune with the spirits of nature and experience the fullness of life. He rejects the artificial and oppressive world of cities and towns, and embraces the wild and free world of nature, where he can be himself and live according to his own nature.

The poem ends with a triumphant and joyful hymn to Pan, celebrating his power and glory, and inviting all beings to join in his worship:

Come, O Pan! and play with me;
Come, O Pan! and dance with me;
Come, O Pan! and lead me to thy realm,
Where I may see thy face unveiled,
And know the mystery of thy power.

The speaker expresses his desire to know the fullness of Pan's power and wisdom, and to join him in his dance of life and creation. He sees Pan as a divine and mystical figure, who embodies the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and who invites all beings to share in his joy and freedom.

Conclusion

"Hymn of Pan" is a powerful and inspiring poem that celebrates the beauty, freedom, and vitality of the natural world. Through its vivid imagery and mystical visions, the poem invites us to explore the primal and creative forces of nature, and to embrace the wild and free spirit of Pan. As a work of Romantic poetry, it reflects the ideals of imagination, emotion, and revolution, and calls for a world free from tyranny and oppression, where the human and the natural are one. For Shelley, Pan was not just a mythic figure, but a symbol of the creative and transformative power of nature, and an inspiration to all who seek to live in harmony with the earth.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Hymn of Pan is a classic poem written by Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the most prominent poets of the Romantic era. This poem is a hymn to the Greek god Pan, who is the god of nature, wilderness, and fertility. Shelley's poem is a celebration of the beauty and power of nature, and it is considered one of his most famous works.

The poem begins with an invocation to Pan, the god of nature, who is described as the "great god Pan." The speaker of the poem calls upon Pan to come and join him in his celebration of nature. The speaker describes Pan as a "faun," which is a mythical creature that is half-man and half-goat. This description of Pan emphasizes his connection to nature and the wild.

The poem then goes on to describe the beauty of nature. The speaker describes the "green earth" and the "blue sky" and how they are "full of voices." The speaker also describes the "rippling water" and the "rustling leaves" and how they are all part of the "great chorus" of nature. This description of nature is very vivid and evocative, and it emphasizes the beauty and power of the natural world.

The poem then turns to a celebration of Pan himself. The speaker describes Pan as the "lord of the woods" and the "god of shepherds." He is also described as the "father of the fauns" and the "king of the satyrs." This description of Pan emphasizes his connection to nature and his role as a protector of the wild.

The poem then goes on to describe the power of Pan. The speaker describes how Pan can "shake the mountains" and "stir the seas." He is also described as being able to "rouse the sleeping earth" and "awaken the dead." This description of Pan emphasizes his power and his ability to control the natural world.

The poem then turns to a celebration of the joy and freedom that comes from being in nature. The speaker describes how Pan can "fill us with delight" and how he can "free us from the bonds of care." He also describes how being in nature can "lift us up to the stars" and how it can "make us one with all that lives." This description of nature emphasizes its ability to bring joy and freedom to our lives.

The poem then ends with a call to action. The speaker calls upon all those who love nature to join him in his celebration of Pan. He encourages them to "come away" from the cities and the "crowded streets" and to "join the wild dance" of nature. This call to action emphasizes the importance of connecting with nature and the need to protect it from the destructive forces of civilization.

Overall, the Hymn of Pan is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the beauty and power of nature. It emphasizes the importance of connecting with nature and the need to protect it from the destructive forces of civilization. It is a poem that continues to inspire and move readers today, and it is a testament to Shelley's skill as a poet.

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